Feedstuff handling and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A feedstuff handling apparatus provided with means for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and forming them into a mass configured to have a generally flat bottom and at least a pair of faces sloping upwardly from the bottom at respective angles no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces. The apparatus holds at least a portion of the mass in this configuration during the operation of means which discharge the mass onto the ground, the sloping faces of the mass thereafter being left freestanding. Some modifications are provided with simple means for attaining a uniform and more cohesive mass and, where effective, for obtaining some compaction of the material forming the mass. A preferred mode of covering the mass or for sealing it off from the air is described, in connection with which are disclosed features of the apparatus operative for smoothing a ground area designated for reception of the feedstuff mass and for mechanically accomplishing part of the labor involved in the covering or sealing operation. According to certain aspects of a feedstuff handling method (of which the apparatus forms an example of means of implementation), feedstuff pieces are formed into a mass of the above-noted configuration and all upwardly inclined faces of the mass are supported until completion of discharge of the mass from one surface on which it is formed to another surface. After discharge, the mass faces extending at an angle to the mass bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass are left unsupported; support is continued for any faces of the mass which extend upwardly at a greater angle. According to one version of the method, final shaping of the mass is accomplished concurrently with discharge of the mass.

United States Patent Flittie 154] FEEDSTUFF HANDLING AND APPARATUS William J. Flittie, 7820 Southwestern, Dallas, Tex. 75206 22 Filed: Oct. 28, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 84,755

[72] Inventor:

52 u.s.c1. ..214/5s, 99/235 s,130/20,

51 Int. Cl ..B65g 67/26 [58] Field of Search.....2l4/58, 82, 5, 10.5, 505, 506, 214/510; 130/20; 99/8, 235 s [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,748 1/1913 Mortenson ..2l4/58 2,627,987 2/1953 Northeim ..2l4/82 X Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Att0rneyH. C. Goldwire [57] ABSTRACT A feedstuff handling apparatus provided with means 1451 Oct. 17, 1972 pieces. The apparatus holds at least a portion of the mass in this configuration during the operation of means which discharge the mass onto the ground, the sloping faces of the mass thereafter being left freestanding. Some modifications are provided with simple means for attaining a uniform andrnore cohesive mass and, where effective, for obtaining some compaction of the material forming the mass. A preferred mode of covering the mass or for sealing it off from the air is described, in connection with which are disclosed features of the apparatus operative for smoothing a ground area designated for reception of the feedstuff mass and for mechanically accomplishing part of the labor involved in the covering or sealing operation. According to certain aspects of a feedstuff handling method (of which the apparatus forms an example of means of implementation), feedstuff pieces are formed into a mass of the above-noted configuration and all upwardly inclined faces of the mass are supported until completion of discharge of the mass from one surface on which it is formed to another surface. After discharge, the mass faces extending at an angle to the mass bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass are left unsupported; support is continued for any faces of the mass which extend upwardly at a greater angle. According to one version of the method, final shaping of the mass is accomplished concurrently with discharge of the mass.

70 Claims, 40 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIJCI I 7 I972 SHEET 01 0F 11 WILLIAM J. FLITTIE f INVENTOR BY J44. $1 M ATTORNEY PATENTEDucmumz I 3.698.578 sum 020F 11 WILLIAM J.- FLITTIE INVENTOR BY 34 @QL ATTORNEY PATENTEDUCI 17 1972 SHEET 03 0F 11 WILLIAM J. FLITTIE INVENTOR BY J /Q flaw ATTORNEY PATENTEDUCT 11 1912 3 698 5 78 saw on or 11 I I I.

[:ll 2n WILLIAM .1. FLITTIE INVENTOR ATTORNEY PAIENTEDnm 17 I972 3.698.578

sum mar 11 FIG 2/ to 3 lo J i a FIG 22 WILLIAM J. FLITTIE INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEO B I972 3.698, 578

sum 08 [IF 11 ANWMW WAQW AQW? F 7 WILLIAM J. FLITTIE /6 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEDumn I972 3.698.578

SHEET USUF 11 WILLIAM J. FLYITTIE INVENTOR BY LN $02M ATTORNEY PATENTEDncr 1? i972 SHEET lDUF 11 WILLIAM J. FLITTIE INVENTOR BY W -MW FIG 35 ATTORNEY FEEDSTUFF HANDLING AND APPARATUS Reference is made to my prior, co-pending application Ser. No. 760,91 filed 19 Sept. 1968 and now U. S. Pat. No. 3,552,296 which copending application is in turn a division of my still earlier application Ser. No. 590,366 filed on 31 October 1966 and now U. S. Pat. No. 3,427,790.

This invention relates to agricultural apparatus, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for handling feedstuff plant material.

In the above-mentioned, co-pending application, there is disclosed a tubular receiver for use in handling vegetable feedstuff particles to form them into a mass having a configuration which is predetermined by the construction of the receiver itself. The receiver therein disclosed has a spaced pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a flat bottom wall all connected together to form an elongated, tubular structure in which the sidewalls slope upwardly and inwardly in relation to the bottom wall and at respective angles approximating the angle of repose of feedstuff particles received into the receiver. A door is provided for closing the opening defined by the walls at the rear end of the receiver, which door is pivotable to a position in which, when the receiver is at an angle to the ground needful for unloading a feedstuff mass from the receiver onto the ground, forms a ramp that is smoothly continuous with the receiver bottomwall and bridges between the bottom wall and the ground. The receiver is employed in conjunction with a flexible, plastic capsule which lines the receiver and receives the feedstuff particles blown by a field chopper, etc. through the receiver forward-end opening, and the capsule contains the feedstuff mass when that mass is slid out of the receiver rear opening and onto the ground; alternatively, only a bottom mat is employed in the receiver during filling 'with feedstuff, and the mat is slid to the ground along with and underneath a feedstuff mass.

To provide a good, void-free filling of the receiver, it has been necessary to employ a tilting means which holds the receiver at a quite steep angle to the ground as it it transported across the field in which the feedstuff is grown and filled by introducing the chopped feedstuff into it through its open, forward end. Since this steep tilting raises the center of gravity of the receiver and the accumulating feedstuff therein a considerable distance above the ground, and since especially a wet, freshly chopped feedstuff is quite heavy, there is introduced the unfortunate possibility of a dangerous and quite destructive overturning of the moving receiver caused by a wheel of the chassis on which the receiver is mounted being excessively raised or loweredby passing over a ground hump or down into a ground" depression. While such danger may be apt to be only occasionally encountered in some fields, it is nonetheless serious.

While the device described is capable of excellent and valuable results, it nonetheless falls short of yielding a feedstuff mass, finally deposited on the ground, that is of an ultimate efficiency and economy of shape. An important factor in this regard is the at least partial dependence of the earlier device on gravity-induced forces developed on the feedstuff mass by tilting the receiver front end upwardly through an angle sufficient to induce rearward sliding of the mass on the bottom wall and toward the ground while the receiver is moved forwardly from under the mass. During the unloading sequence, the flat bottom of the portion of the mass already on the ground at any given instant is at a zero angle to the ground, while all of the bottom of the mass which is still sliding on the receiver is at an angle considerably greater than zero; as a consequence, there is a zone of transition wherein the mass bottom shifts from the one angle to the other and in which zone longitudinal bending or shifting ofthe mass tend to induce downfalling of the feedstuff particles of which the mass is made. In addition, the ground of a field normally is characterized by irregularities which cause a chassis and hence a receiver to vary in angle of tilt or roll relative to a longitudinal and/or transverse axis, and these motions and the shocks and jars that can attend them tend to disrupt the shape of the partially unloaded mass and to produce downfalling of portions of it. To prevent defeat of the purposes of the invention by the above and other factors, it is necessary to so configure the receiver that the sides and ends of the mass produced thereby are disposed at angles to the mass bottom which are undesirably less than the static angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces; for the angle at which those, pieces will stand when at rest is appreciably larger than the angle at which they will stand without tumbling during the above-described unloading from the receiver.

As a result, some volumetric efficiency of the feedstuff mass is sacrificed, and there is an attendant and corresponding increase in the square footage of the plastic film or other material needed for covering and containing the mass on the ground. Where tumbling of I the feedstuff pieces is extensive, even though the angle of the ends and/or sides of the mass have been reduced and made less steep in an effort to obviate such tumbling, the result is a serious waste of time and labor in replacing the downfallen feed as nearly as may be in its proper position on the mass or, alternatively, in expending the added time and plastic film needed for covering the disrupted mass, which not only is of a nonstandard configuration and thus not compatible with a preformed'cover, but is of such shape and disposition that added plastic film is needed for enclosing it. Where the mass is already enclosed in a plastic-film capsule before unloading, the abovementioned tumbling, when it occurs, bursts and ruins the capsule unless the latter is made of excessively heavy and therefore expensive material. Even where such bursting does not occur, there is some unavoidable abrasion and sometimes ripping or tearing of the capsule through conditions generated during its sliding contact with the receiver. Such damage to the capsule can be avoided, to a considerable degree, by a choice of receiver side and bottom wall materials that have a relatively low coefficient of friction with the capsule and by finishing those walls to and maintaining them in a high degree of smoothness. Such materials and the labor of finishing and maintenance are expensive, and their employment is not always successful for the purpose intended where a quite thin and inexpensive material is employed in fabrication of the capsule.

Toward alleviation of these difficulties, it has been contemplated that the dependence on gravitational forces for providing a slide-inducing force component and the relatively high unloading angle of the receiver made necessary thereby can be reduced by placing a rearward pulling force on the rear-end material of the capsule or, where employed, the rear end of the bottom mat. These expedients are of help, but their efficacy is seriously limited unless the capsule or mat materials are constructed to contain reinforcements or are of materials heavy enough to withstand the application of a pulling force of a magnitude capable of yielding significant effect. Further, the receiver tilting mechanism is, of course, an item of considerable expense, especially where this mechanism must serve to move the receiver between its unloading angle and a quite steep loading angle. Still further, a separate capsule relatively expensively preformed for fitting within the receiver, or a separate bottom mat, must be provided for each and every load configured by and discharged from the receiver.

In addition, not only the sides but also the ends of the mass must be configured, for reasons stated above, to lie at an angle somewhat less than the at-rest angle of repose of the feedstuff in order to withstand the disruptive forces encountered during unloading; and this lowered angle is volumetrically uneconomical in the same manner as is the undesirably shallow angle of the sides. A deposited mass with ends shaped at or quite near the actual, static, free-standing angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces is a desirable configuration, but not one fully obtainable by the above-mentioned'equipment. In addition, there are cases in which a steeper angle of the ends (for example, an angle of 90) would be preferable from the standpoint of volumetric efficiency and for economy and ease of encapsulating the material. Because of having to deal with end slopes, the expense, labor, and materials in making a preformed cover for a mass with sloped ends is greater than would be the cost of such a cover for a mass with vertical ends.

Since their area is larger and since they are therefore associated with a greater volume of feedstuff than are the end faces of the mass, the side faces are even more subject to the above problems. It is unfortunate that the effective angle of repose of the feedstuff during the dynamic events of unloading is appreciably less than is the static, ground-resting angle of repose of the feedstuff; and the shallower angles of the feedstuff mass side faces necessarily employed in an effort to compensate for this discrepancy are especially injurious to the volumetric efficiency of the same.

The bottom mat (or the bottom of a complete capsule installed and filled in the receiver) is an item of expense which detracts from the overall profit of the user of the device. An improved method or construction for providing an adequate seal of the feedstuff material from the air, where the feedstuff is subject to spoilage, would be highly desirable.

In addition, the ground of a field in which the feedstuff is grown and on which it is to be deposited is sometimes too irregular to provide a suitably flat surface for deposition of the feedstuff mass thereon. The presence of an gross depressions and especially of any sizeable ridges or humps causes a shifting of the deposited feedstuff mass bottom from a flat condition by an amount that is productive of serious downfalling of feed at the sides and ends of the mass, even where the angles of those sides and ends have been made shallower than the feedstuff static angle of repose in an effort to compensate for the disruptive forces generated during unloading of the mass. A representative feedstuff mass contemplated in the above-mentioned application contains some 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of material and in many possible useages is smaller or larger. An accident such as described above so disrupts a feedstuff mass during unloading as to make extremely excessive the labor and expense of handling the feedstuff mass to put it in a configuration in which it can be and is suitably encapsulated.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a device for receiving and shaping feedstuff particles into a mass having an improved volumetric efficiency and requiring less material for its encapsulation.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for reducing or eliminating the dependence of a device such as characterized above on gravitationally originated forces for providing force components urging the sliding of a feedstuff mass from a bottom wall of a device and to the ground or other generally flat surface.

A further object is to provide an arrangement including a feedstuff receiver having a bottom wall and sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at approximately the angle of repose of feedstuff pieces to be received by the receiver to form them therein into a mass of a configuration determined by the configuration of the receiver, which arrangement is effective for sliding discharge of the feedstuff mass from the bottom wall and onto a generally flat surface with a lessened disruption of the configuration of the mass in the zone of its transition from its bottom-surface angle to the horizontal while on the bottom wall to its bottom-surface angle to the horizontal when arrived on the flat surface.

Yet another object is to provide a construction effective for forming feedstuff particles into a flat-bottomed mass having sides and where desired, ends, which extend from the mass bottom at or very close to the static angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces and for transferring the mass toand leaving it free-standing on a generally flat surface without significant disruption of the above-described configuration.

A still further object is to provide a construction in which the above-mentioned transfer is effective without significant disruption of the configuration of the mass, even though the mass may undergo shocks, jars, or tilting motions about one or another or its axis during its transfer to the generally flat surface.

Still another object is to provide a construction effective for placing a positive sliding force of whatever magnitude is needed and desired on the feedstuff mass for transfer of the same to the fiat surface and by means which are successively reusable, load by load.

An additional object is to provide a construction of the above character in which the need for high-angle tilting of the receiver for obtaining a firm, void-free filling of the same is obviated, thus greatly increasing the efficiency and safety of operation of the device.

Another object is to provide a construction of the above character which eliminates the need for a tilting mechanism for the feed-receiving means, or which allows a sharp reduction in the necessary tilting range of such a mechanism.

A further object is to provide a construction providing for the shaping of feedstuff pieces, received into a receiving means having a bottom wall, into a mass having sides approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces and ends which extend upwardly from the bottom of the mass at a greater angle up to and including ninety degrees, the construction being operative for discharging the mass onto a generally flat surface without disturbing the configuration of the mass ends, whereby volumetric efficiency of the mass is increased and the cost of protecting the mass from the air and/or elements while on the flat surface is decreased.

Yet another object is to provide an arrangement of the character typified above in which it is not necessary for the thin plastic or similar material ultimately covering the feedstuff material mass when on the ground or similar surface to which it is transferred to be exposed to stresses, during transfer of the mass, which could tear, rupture, or otherwise injure the material.

A still further object is to provide an arrangement or apparatus of the above character which is operative for flattening a ground surface before depositing a feedstuff mass thereon.

Still another object is to provide an arrangement such as already characterized, which arrangement greatly lessens the labor and expense of obtaining a good, sealing covering about a feedstuff mass such as described and after depositing the same on the ground.

An additional object is to provide a device of the above character which effects a degree of compression or kneading of the material of the feedstuff mass during its discharge onto the flat surface but while holding it within the bounds of its predetermined configuration, thus improving the standing characteristics of the material of the mass.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims and from the accompanyin g drawing illustrative of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in partial longitudinal section, of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken as at the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the endpiece of FIG. 1 and taken as along the line established by the pullrod;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pullrod supporting member, together with a fragment of one of the receiver sidewalls;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a generally typical one of the feedmasses unloaded onto the ground from the apparatus of FIG. 1, 7, 14, or 29 and protected or even sealed from the atmosphere or elements;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the feedmass taken in a vertical plane including the line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, in partial longitudinal section, of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the rear endpiece of FIG. 7 taken as along the line established by the pullrod;

FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the apparatus showing the door it its up and locked position;

FIG. 10 is a top view of another modification of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view, some portions being broken away, of the modification shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an end view of the receiver and front endpiece, the chassis being omitted;

FIG. 13 is a rear end view of the modification shown in FIG. 10, the door being omitted;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention employing an alternate means for bringing the bottom wall end'edge into contiguity with the generally flat surface onto which a feedstuff mass is to be transferred;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken as at the line XV-XV of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention some parts being broken away;

FIG. 17 is a forward-end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken as at line XIX-XIXof FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view of the top, inner surface of one of the sidewalls and showing one of the sockets and a cutaway view of one of the tying members;

FIG. 21 is a view of one of the tying members, the middle portion of such member being broken away;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom wall rear portion showing the guiding flanges and taken as at line XXII XXII of FIG. 16;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the forward end of the pullrod; 7

FIG. 24 is a view of one of the feedstuff masses deposited on the ground and still contained in one of the enclosures;

FIG. 25 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken as at line XXV-XXV of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken as at line XXVIXXVI of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a front view of one of the enclosures unloaded onto the ground with a mass of feedstuff therein and employing an auxiliary endwall, a pulling plate useable with this configuration having been removed;

FIG. 28 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken as at line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 27 but showing the pulling plate and omitting the feedstuff mass;

FIG. 29 is aside elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view taken as at line XXXI-XXXI of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a front plan view of the spaced pair of walls and top wall and taken at the line XXXII-XXXII of FIG. 29 to show portions of ,the side panels and enclosure sidewalls in cross section;

FIG. 33 is a partial and diagrammatic view of a modification of the rear wall and spaced pair of walls;

FIG. 34 is a partial and diagrammatic view of a modification of the top wall, spaced pair of walls, and end wall;

FIG. 35 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken as at line XXXV-XXXV of FIG. 29 and showing the plough blades and leveling means;

FIG. 36 is a plan view of a two-piece enclosure;

FIG. 37 is a front elevational view of the enclosure shown in FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a partial, side elevational view showing the front end of the enclosure of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is a plan view of another two-piece enclosure; and

FIG. 40 is a view taken as at the line XXXX XXXX of FIG. 39.-

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown in semi-diagrammatic fashion one embodiment of an apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate therein to form a mass, and discharging the formed mass onto a generally flat surface without excessive disturbance of the predetermined configuration into which the mass has been formed. The means for receiving the feedstuff pieces and forming them into the desired mass has a first, bottom wall 10 which is free of downwardly extending convexity and which preferably is flat. This wall 10 has one end defined by an end edge 11 and also another, forward end 12 which is spaced from the first. A bottom wall rearward portion 13 has a proximal edge 14 which is located adjacent the forwardly located balance 15 of the bottom wall and a distal edge which is identical with the one edge 11 already specified. The receiving means includes second and third, generally planar walls, of which the third wall 17 appears in the longitudinal sectional view provided by FIG. 1, the second wall being substantially identical to the third. The bottom wall has a longitudinal, central axis (shown in a later view), and the third wall 17 is connected to the first wall 10 along this axis and, as will be seen, is spaced to a respective side of the central axis. The third wall 17 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 10 to a level at which it joins a top wall 18 that extends along the central axis and is generally parallel to the bottom wall. The bottom, top, and side walls of the receiving means together define a receiving means forward opening 19. The bottom wall 10 and sidewalls such as 17, toward the rear end of the receiving means, form three sides of a discharge opening 20 further defined, in this embodiment, by the top wall 18.

As to the bottom wall rearward portion 13, its proximal edge 14 is pivotally attached to the forwardly located balance 15 of the bottom wall 10 by a laterally extending hinge pin 21 or other suitable means for rendering the rearward portion pivotable on the rest of the bottom wall and to a position in which its end edge 11 is, as shown, in contiguity with the ground or other generally flat surface onto which a mass of feedstuff in the receiving means in its unloading position (to be described), the upper surface of the bottom wall rear portion 13 is in smooth, substantially continuous relation with the upper surface of the balance 15 of the bottom wall. To ensure this smoothness, the pivoting means employing the hinge pin 21 is, for example, of the nature of a flush hinge; or any other suitable hinge may be employed which yields the necessary continuity between the surfaces. By virtue of this means rendering the bottom wall rear portion 13 pivotable at its proximal edge 14, the rear portion is pivotable to another position 13A in which its end edge 11 is raised and in which the rear portion forms a door closing off the receiving means discharge opening 20. Any suitable and releasable locking means (not shown) is employed for holding the door in its closed position.

For carrying the receiving means through a field for filling the receiving means, as described in the abovementioned, co-pending application, there is provided a chassis 22 suitably supplied with supporting wheels 23,

24 and with a drawbar 25 or the like for applying a motive force to the chassis. As described in said application, the receiving means is ordinarily utilized by filling it with chopped feedstuff particles entrained in a stream of air and delivered into its forward opening 19 by the exhaust spout of a field chopper or the like. During such filling, the door 13A formed by the bottom wall rear portion 13 is in its closed position and the receiving means is preferably tilted to a considerably higher angle with the ground that is shown in FIG. 1. At or forward of the bottom wall rear portion proximal edge 14, the bottom wall 10 is pivoted on the chassis 22 as by a cross-shaft 142 which also serves as an angle for the rear wheels 24. The tilting mentioned above is accomplished by extending a hydraulic actuator 27 which connects the chassis 22 to the bottom wall 10 at a location forward of the receiving means pivotal mounting 142 on the chassis.

With reference to FIG. 2, the bottom wall 10 (as previously stated) is flat. The second and third, generally planar wall In combination with the receiving means, the present invention provides means for promoting discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means without any excessive downfalling of the feedstuff or other serious disruption of'its predetermined configuration. In the receiver illustrated, this configuration is one in which the feedstuff mass is characterized by a flat bottom, lateral sides that extend upwardly from the bottom at approximately the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, and ends which are also disposed at approximately the angle of repose, which angle is never exceeded by either the sides or the ends. Such a mass thus complements the inner surfaces of the receiving means already described and, when it is in place, the inner face of the endpiece which will later be described. Discharge of the mass from the receiving means is in a direction leading away from the bottom wall other or forward end 12 (FIG. 1), toward the bottom wall end edge 11, and through the discharge opening 20 at a time when the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the flat surface onto which the feedstuff is to be deposited.

An important part of the discharge promoting means is a substantially rigid structure or endpiece 29 (FIG. 1) which is disposable within the receiving means, in the region of its forward end 12, on the bottom wall 10 and between the sidewalls 16, 17. The endpiece 29 has face 30 that, when the endpiece is positioned as stated above, confronts the discharge opening 20 and any feedstuff mass then present in the receiving means, this face being of a shape and area approximating a lateral cross-section of the feedstuff mass taken, in the example shown, at an angle to the flat bottom of the feedstuff means approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces, at 'about which angle the rigid structure face 30 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 10. As shown'in FIG. 3, there is provided through the approximate center of the rigid structure or endpiece 29 a hole 31 for the reception of an attenuated pulling member (to be described). The endpiece 29 (which has a bottom edge 32) is slidably movable on the bottom wall 10 and between the sidewalls 16, 17, along the central axis 28 (FIG. 2), and through the discharge opening 20. To assist in holding it in an orientation within the receiving means in which its face 30 is at approximately the angle of repose to the bottom wall 10 and its bottom edge is perpendicular to the central axis 28, the endpiece 28 is preferably provided at its margins with forwardly extending extensions or guides 33 which, in a radial direction, are flush with the rim or edge of the endpiece and which extend forwardly from the endpiece forward face by a distance that yields a longitudinally extending bearing contact with the inner faces of the receiving means walls 10, 16, 17, 18 sufficient for effectually locating and holding the endpiece in position as it is placed in and moved longitudinally through the receiving means. Because of the slopes of the sidewalls 16, 17, this can be accomplished by use of two guides 33, one on each lateral margin of the endpiece 29; preferably, however, there are four of the guides 33, each of which guides is located intermediate a respective pair of adjoining corners of the endpiece. Each guide 33 preferably has sufficient extension in a direction along the edge of the endpiece 29 to render the guide wide enough, in that direction, to make it of plate-like character. If desired, some or all the guides may be extended in length along the endpiece edge until they are mutually joined to form a forwardly extending skirt with faces that correspond to and snugly fit against the inner faces of the receiving means walls. As will be seen, the endpiece 29 is removable from contact with the feedstuff mass after discharge of the latter onto the ground.

For such discharge, the discharge promoting means further comprises means for imposing on the endpiece 29, at the time of discharge, a force urging it toward the discharge opening 20 and against frictionally generated resistance exerted by the feedstuff mass with the forward end of which the endpiece rear face 30 is in contact, thus moving as much as is desired of the mass along the central axis 28, toward the bottom wall end edge 11, and through the discharge opening where the bottom wall end edge 11 is in contiguity with the ground. This force-imposing means includes an attenuated member such as a pullrod (FIG. 1) which is positionable within the receiving means to extend from the location therein at which (as described above) the endpiece 29 is positionable and at least to the discharge opening 20, the pullrod being substantially parallel to the central axis 28 (FIG. 2). Preferably, the pullrod rear end is just long enough to extend, when it is positioned in the receiving means, into a hole 36 provided therefor in the door 13 upon the door being raised to its closed position 13A. The first or forward-end portion 37 of the pullrod 35 is supported by means to be described; the door hole 36 (FIG. 2) mentioned above affords a convenient means for support of the pullrod second or rear-end portion 38 (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the pullrod 35 is inwardly spaced from the bottom, top, and sidewalls 10, 18, 16, 17.

Means are provided for supporting the first end of the pullrod 35 prior to and during the filling of the receiving means with feedstuff; and, since the endpiece 29 is not positioned within the receiving means during this time, the supporting means must be removable and of identity distinct from the end piece. Such a supporting means takes the form of a supporting member 39 (FIG. 2) that extends from one of the receiving means walls 16 at the forward end of such wall and to the middle of the area of the receiving means forward opening 19. As shown, the supporting member 39 (FIG. 2) is removably mounted on the sidewall 16 by, for example, flush bolts 40 extending through the sidewall and a plate 41 to which the proximal end of the'supporting member 39 is affixed. The distal end of the supporting member 39 has a hole therethrough and into which the first end of the pullrod 35 extends for support. As shown in FIG. 4, the supporting member 39 is at the forward end of the associated sidewall 16 and has, at its proximal end, a right-angled portion which is widened to form the plate 41 that, in turn, is removably attached to the outer face of the sidewall by nuts on the bolts 40.

When the receiving means has been filled and the endpiece 29 is put into position therein, the pullrod forward end 37 extends, as shown in FIG. 1, through the hole 31 (FIG. 3) in the endpiece. To lock the pullrod 35 (FIG. 1), relative to the endpiece 29, against motion in a direction along its own length and toward the discharge opening 20, the forward end 37 of the pullrod is threaded to receive a nut 42 which is run down against a large, tapered washer 43 bearing on the front face 34 of the endpiece; or a clamp or other suitable locking means for connecting the attenuated member or pullrod 35 to the endpiece 29 is employed. The locking means employed is also operative for disconnecting the pullrod forward end 37, by removing the nut 42, from the endpiece 29 subsequent to transfer of the feedstuff mass to the ground.

For expelling the mass through the discharge opening 20, at a time when the bottom wall end edge 11 is in contiguity with the ground, there is provided means for placing on the rear end portion 38 of the attenuated member 35 or pullrod a pulling force urging the endpiece 29 toward and through the discharge opening 20. Such a force, of course, is applied in a direction leading from the bottom wall forward end 12 and through the discharge opening 20. To place such a force on the pullrod 35, the preferred embodiment employs a threaded rear end of the pullrod in order that, when the door 13 has been opened and the pullrod rear end exposed, there may be run onto that end an internally threaded sleeve 44 rigidly mounted on the forward end of a pullrod extension 45 having on its other end a ring 46 or other means for attachment thereto of a cable 47 or other pulling device. The cable 47 extends rearwardly from the receiving means, and its other end is secured to any convenient structure (shown as a stake 48) which is fixedly related to the ground or other surface onto which the feedstuff mass is to be discharged. A tractor or a truck with locked brakes is a convenient alternative to the stake 48.

The discharge promoting means also comprises means for moving the receiving means relative to the surface onto which the feedstuff is to be deposited and in a direction generally opposite to the direction of the pulling force to'be imposed on the endpiece 29. Such a means is typified by the drawbar 25 on the chassis for ward end, which drawbar enables the chassis 22 to be connected to a tractor, etc. and drawn forwardly, thus moving the receiving means away from the stake l1 and developing in the cable 47 and pullrod 35 a pulling force that is imposed on the endpiece 429 by the pullrod.

In operation of the combination just described, the attenuated member 35 is positioned and supported as specified above. The receiving means is tilted to a desired filling angle by the actuator 27 and is filled, through its forward opening 19, in the manner indicated in said co-pending application. While chopped, fresh feedstuff is excellently handled by the combination, this combination is also fully efficacious in handling dry, chopped feedstuff, as are the other embodiments disclosed herein. With the receiving means filled, the pullrod supporting means 39 (FIGS. 2, 4) is removed and the endpiece 29 is placed in the position in the receiver already described, care being taken that the pullrod forward end passes through the hole in the endpiece. The washer 43 and nut 42 are then installed on the first end 37 of the pullrod.

With the receiver lowered to its unloading position as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom wall end edge 11 is placed in contiguity with the ground by pivoting the bottom wall rear portion 13 until the rear edge is in ground contact; this operation leaves the discharge opening unobstructed, provides a ramp extending to the ground, and makes accessible the second or rear end of the pullrod 35. The threaded sleeve 44 of the pullrod extension 45 is run down on the threaded second end of the pullrod 35, and the extension is anchored to the ground through a cable 47 or the like. There is then imposed on the chassis drawbar a forwardly directed force of magnitude sufficient to move the receiving means forwardly, although the endpiece 29 is held, relative to the ground, substantially immobile by the pullrod 35, pullrod extension 45, cable 47, and fixed structure such as the stake 48 or a tractor, etc. As a result, and in the frame of reference provided by the receiving means, the endpiece 29 is forced rearwardly along the bottom wall 10 and between the sidewalls 16, 17, through the-discharge opening 20, past the bottom wall end edge 1 1, and onto the ground.

At this point, the tension in the cable 47 is relaxed (as by disconnecting it from the extension 45 or stake 48) and the pullrod extension is removed from the pullrod rear end. The pullrod 35 is pulled through the hole 31 (FIG. 3) in the endpiece 29 and thus is removed from the feedstuff mass; and the endpiece is moved away from the end of the mass against which it lies. The mass is thus left freestanding and is then covered and, where the feedstuff is subjected to, spoilage, sealed off from the air.

One quite effective mode of covering the feedmass and, where desired, sealing it off from the air is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The fiat bottom 50 of the mass 49 rests on the ground and, where the ground is reasonably dry and not otherwise of such character that it would make any significant contribution to spoilage or contamination of the feed, there need not be anything between the ground and the bottom of the mass. Where protection from the ground is needed, this is provided by a bottom mat (not shown) placed in the receiving means before filling (as disclosed in said copending application) and discharge from the receiving means with the feedmass 49 resting on its top. The feedmass 49 is covered by, for example, a form-fitting cover 51 made of plastic film and, where the mass is composed of dry feed that is not subject to spoilage, it is possible to omit any seal between the bottom borders of the cover and the ground. Where a fresh, wet feed intended for silage makes up the mass 49, however, the mass must be sealed off from the air, and this is readily effected by employing a cover 51 with excess material at its bottom that forms a skirt 52 that extends, as shown in FIG. 6, below the feedmass, preferably all around the bottom of the mass, and downwardly into and resting within a trench 53 preferably cut all around the feedmass at or near the borders of its bottom face. The soil removed from the ground to form the trench 53 is left in a heap or ridge 54 until the cover 50 is put in place on the mass 49 and its skirts 52 disposed in the trench 53; then, some or all of the soil is replaced, over the skirt material and within the trench, as shown at 55.

Because the combination including the abovedescribed elements provides as much sliding force as desired or necessary for moving the mass 49 out of the receiving means, there is no need to depend on gravitationally originated forces for producing sliding movement of the mass in the receiving means. As a consequence, the unloading angle may be made as shallow as desired, thus much reducing the unavoidable angle between the bottom wall 10 and the ground. A previously inoperative (low-angle) design of the receiving means is thus made possible, operative, and highly efficacious. Attending this reduction in angle between the bottom wall and ground is a corresponding reduction in severity of the transition-forces experienced by the feedstuff mass, which forces result from the change in orientation of the feedmass bottom where it passes over the line defined by the juncture of the ground with the bottom wall end edge 11. This milder wall-toground transition is accompanied by sharply reduced forces tending to produce downfall of portions of the feedstuff mass. Since important factors which would otherwise tend to disrupt the configuration of the mass 10 are thus greatly reduced, the receiving means is successfully configured to provide a mass with sides and ends significantly nearer the static angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces than previously was consistent with successful forming of the feedstuff mass and the unloading of such mass, while maintaining its integrity, from the receiving means. The final result is improved volumetric efficiency of the feedstuff masses laid down and a corresponding improvement in efficiency of the equipment employed for that purpose, with attendant savings in the labor of forming and unloading the masses and in the square footage (hence, the cost) of the plastic film or other material placed on them for purposes of encapsulation or covering after unloading. Further, since the plastic material is not placed on the feedstuff mass until after the latter has come to rest on the ground, the plastic material is not subject to the tearand rupture-producing forces imposed on a capsule which lines the receiving means and is filled when the receiving means is filled, hence must be slid out of such means and onto the ground together with and while containing the heavy feedmass. A result is that a thinner, less expensive plastic material may be employed. Further, all the means for producing the above results are reusable, load after load.

While the use of a capsule that is installed and filled in the receiver is thus rendered unnecessary, as is the use of a bottom mat employed to provide a means for placing a pulling force on the feedmass during unloading, the invention does not preclude the use of such capsules or mats, which can be employed, if such should be desired.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the invention in which a still higher free-standing angle of the sidewalls of the discharged feedstuff mass and especially of the ends of such mass is obtainable through the use of a second, substantially rigid structure or endpiece 56 which is positionable on the bottom wall 10 and between the sidewalls 16, 17 in a location in which it is located at and closes off at least a major portion (preferably all) of the discharge opening the forward face 57 of the second structure confronts the receiving means other end 12 and, when both endpieces are positioned in the receiving means, the first, substantially rigid structure or endpiece 29. As shown in FIG. 8, the second endpiece rear or outer face 58, like its forward-face 57, has an area and shape that corresponds approximately to that of a lateral cross-section of the feedstuff mass shaped by the receiving means, in this case the section being taken in a plane lying at an angle to the receiver bottom wall approximately equaling the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass. The second endpiece 56 is outwardly slidable in the receiving means, on the bottom wall 10 (FIG. 7), and through the discharge opening 20; when in place in the receiving means, its preferably flat outer face 58 abutts and lies approximately in contact with the bottom wall rear portion 13 when the latter is swung up to close off the discharge opening from the outside of the receiving means. As does the first endpiece 29, the second endpiece 56 lies at an angle to the bottom wall 10 that is approximately the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass; and it should be understood that this angle is that at which the rear end of the feedstuff mass will safely stand when its bottom is horizontal and resting on the ground, as contrasted with the angle at which, without the presence of the rear endpiece 56, the mass rear end could withstand the added tilting it experiences while on the bottom wall 10 and while undergoing the disruptive forces generated during movement of the mass from the bottom wall to the. ground. The rear endpiece 56 has therethrough a hole which extends between its forward and rear faces and, as shown at 59 in FIG. 8, is at the approximate center ofthat endpiece.

With the exceptions noted herein, the modification shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the device shown in FIGS. 14. The bottom wall rear portion 13, as mentioned above, comes into facing contact with the rear face of the rear endpiece 56 when it is swung upwardly to close off the discharge opening 20 and is held in this position by a lock comprising, for example, a ringbolt 60 in one lateral edge of the bottom wall rear portion 13 which is releasably connectable, through a chain 143, to the hook of a toggle assembly 61 mounted n the outer face of a sidewall 16 near its rear edge. A similar ringbolt, chain, and toggle lock (not shown) are provided at the other side of the receiving means. A representative one of the locks 60, 61, 143 is shown holding the bottom wall rear portion in its upper position in FIG. 9. As described above, the door lock including the toggle 61, ringbolt 60, and chain 143 comprises a means for holding the bottom wall rear portion 13 in its raised position and for cooperating with that bottom wall portion to prevent motion of the rear endpiece 56 through the discharge opening 20. The endwall rear portion 13 and the lock 60, 61, 143 thus serve to lock the rear endpiece 56 in a position in which it is in the receiving meansand closes off the discharge opening 20; and the lock components are selectively releasable for freeing the second endpiece 56 for movement of the same out of the discharge opening 20.

The attenuated member or pullrod 35 is employed substantially as before, except its rearward portion slidably extends through the opening or hole 59 (FIG. 8) extending between the inner and outer faces of the rear endpiece 56. This rearward portion of the pullrod 35 is connectible (as will be described), to a source of a pulling force for placing on the pullrod a force transmitted therethrough to the forward endpiece or first structure 29 and in a direction urging the forward endpiece toward and through the discharge opening 20. As will be seen, this pulling force is applied at a time when the pullrod connects the two endpieces 29, 56 and the rear endpiece locking means 60, 61 has been released by freeing the ringbolts 60 (FIG. 9) from the toggles 61 and swinging the bottom wall rear portion 13 down to its position shown in FIG. 7.

As before, theforward endpiece 29 isdisposable, when the receiving means has been filled with a load of chopped feedstuff, within the receiving means in the vicinity of the bottom wall forward end l2, in which position it effectively closes the receiving means forward opening 19. With the forward endpiece 29 thus disposed and with the receiving means preferably tilted to its unloading position, the rear endpiece 56 is released by unlocking and swinging down the bottom wall rear portion 13. The pullrod 35 is then connected between the forward and rear endpieces 29, 56 by means which, as before, preferably include a tapered washer 43 and nut 42 at the pullrod forward end. One convenient method of attachment of the pullrod 35 to the rear endpiece 56 is to employ a pullrod that extends not only through the rear endpiece but also into or through the bottom wall rear portion 13, when raised to form a door, by a distance sufficient to permit attachment to the pullrod threaded rear end of articles to be mentioned. If necessary, the corresponding hole into or through the bottom wall rear end portion 13 is slotted to the extent needed for allowing opening and closing of the door 13A formed by that wall portion without interference with the rear end of the pullrod 35. A large, tapered washer 62 is placed over the threaded rear end of the pullrod 35 and the interiorly threaded sleeve 44 at the proximal end of the pullrod extension 45 is run down on the rod 35 and against the washer 62 until the washer is forced firmly against the rear endpiece rear face 58. At this time, the feedstuff mass is expelled from the receiving means as before. One or both of the means connecting the pullrod 35 between the first and second structures or endpieces 29, 56 are disconnected after the feedstuff mass rests on the ground or other intended surface, the pullrod is withdrawn from the mass, and the two endpieces are removed from contact with the ends of the mass, which are thus left freestanding.

The modification just described provides all the results and advantages of the device of FIGS. 1-4. Because the feedstuff mass is supported at both of its ends by the endpieces 29, 56, no allowance need be made for the angle of the bottom wall to the horizontal in shaping the mass for standing at its forward end and especially at its rear end during discharge; and, being supported until it is at rest, those ends are successfully formed to lie at or very near their actual, static angle of repose. This promotion of standing of the mass at both of its ends until after it is at rest extends to and benefits the material at the sides of the mass and for some distance from the endpieces 29, 56 toward the mass center, thus making possible at least some added steepness of the sides of the mass without collapse of the sides during unloading. All of these items favor a further improvement in volumetric efficiency of the mass, a lower cost per pound in forming, discharging, and in covering the same, and reduced possibility of downfalling of feed and of the concomitant expense and labor necessary for remedying the results of such an accident.

Like the device of FIGS. 1-4, the modification shown in FIGS. 10-13 receives an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constrains the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharges the mass without excessive disturbance of its predetermined configuration and onto flat ground or some other, desired surface. As to the means for receiving the inflow of vegetable feedstuff, this continues to comprise a bottom wall 10 as described previously, and two upwardly and inwardly extending receiving means sidewalls l6, 17 remain important parts of the device and are sloped, relative to the bottom wall, as before. Each of the sidewalls 16, 17 has an upper edge 63 (FIGS. 10, 13) which is fixed in location relative to the bottom wall and is laterally spaced on a respective side of the bottom wall central axis 28; and the two sidewalls define therebetween two sides of a receiving means inlet opening 64 which extends longitudinally of the central axis. As seen in FIG. 13, the bottom wall 10 and side walls 16, 17 cooperate to define, at one end (in this case, the rear end) of the receiving means, three sides of a discharge opening 20A for the discharge of feedstuff masses from the receiving means.

In the means for promoting discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means, there is again provided a hinge 21 (FIG. 11) or equivalent for pivoting the bottom wall rear portion 13 on a transverse axis, thus rendering the bottom wall rear edge 11 positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface onto which the feedstuff is to be unloaded.

A rigid, forward endpiece 29A somewhat similar to that employed in the device of FIGS. 7 and 8 is located, as before, at the bottom wall forward end 12 and is prevented from moving out of the forward end of the receiving means prior to connection thereto of the pullrod 35 by means such as a pair of horizontally disposed, mutually spaced bars 65, 66 (FIGS. 1 l, 12) which connect the two sidewalls 16, 17 at their forward ends. The front endpiece forward face 34 is provided with guiding members in the nature of forwardly extending plates 33 that preferably are integral with the forward endpiece and which have outwardly directed faces that are flush with the bottom and lateral borders of the endpiece 29A and which thus provide guiding and bearing surfaces that slidably engage the bottom wall 10 and sidewalls 16, 17.

A rear endpiece 56 (FIGS. 10, l 1) similar to that employed in the device of FIG. 7 is located in the rear end of the receiver. In FIG. 10, the bottom wall rear portion 13 is swung up to its position shown at 13A and in which it closes off the discharge opening to prevent movement of the rear endpiece 56 through the discharge opening; in FIG. 11, the bottom wall rear portion 13 has-been swung to its lowered position, and the rear endpiece 56 is held in place by a washer 67 and nut 68 applied to the threaded rear end 38 of the attenuated member 35 after swinging down the bottom wall rear portion. A similar washer 67 and nut 68 are applied to the pullrod forward end 37 to connect the two endpieces 29A, 56 together through the pullrod. It will be noted that, in this embodiment, the two endpieces 29A, 56 extend vertically upwardly from the bottom wall 10 and are present in the receiver when filling of the receiver through its top opening 64 (FIG. 10) is accomplished; these endpieces, therefore, result in the formation of a feedstuff mass having vertically oriented ends. By slanting the endpieces 29A, 56 relative to the bottom wall 10 and toward each other, less steep feedmass ends are obtainable where desired.

This receiving means with a top inlet opening 64 is readily fillable without tilting its forward end upwardly to a high location and, indeed, does not require a tilting means. For this reason, the hydraulic actuator of the previous embodiments is omitted, and the forward end portion of the receiving means is connected to and supported on the chassis through a rigid supporting member 69 (FIG. 11). Thus, the receiving means rests permanently at a desired unloading angle which is also the loading angle; and the expense of a tilting means and the time and power required for operating it are eliminated. The feedstuff mass is unloaded, as before, by attaching a source of pulling force to the pullrod threaded rear end 38 (FIG. 11) and moving the chassis forward by means of a forwardly directed force applied to the chassis drawbar 25. Alternatively, however, the rear endpiece 56 is provided with a pair or more (for example, three) ringbolts 70 (FIG. 13) or the like spaced to apply a symmetrically imposed pulling force to the endpiece when the ringbolts are connected to cables, etc. attached to any desired, fixed structure located directly behind the receiving means and the chassis 22 is moved forwardly. The ringbolts 70 thus constitute one, first means for receiving a pulling force and applying it to the rear endpiece 56; and a washer 67 and nut 68 on the pullrod 35, together with the material of the endpiece 56, constitute another means effective for transferring that force to the pullrod, both the forward and rear washers 67 nuts 68 being part of the means for connecting the pullrod between the endpieces 29, 56; and all of the above serve together to provide a means for placing a pulling force on the forward endpiece 29. In FIG. 11, the ringbolts 70 are not shown, and the bottom wall rear portion, when swung upwardly to 13A for closing off the discharge opening, bears against the rear face of the rear endpiece 56. When the ringbolts (FIG. 13) are employed, the upper face of the bottom wall rear portion 13 rests against the ringbolts when pivoted upwardly to 13A, and the rear endpiece 56 is thus positioned forwardly of the bottom wall 10 by the diameters of the rings of the ringbolts 70. 

1. In an apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and transferring the mass, without excessive disturbance of its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, the apparatus being of the class comprising means for receiving said inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and for forming them into said mass, said means having a first, bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having one end, another end and a central axis, second and third, generally planar walls forming receiving means sidewalls each of which is connected to the first wall along and spaced to a respective side of the central axis, the seconD and third walls each extending upwardly from and inwardly of the first wall at an angle approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, the bottom wall, at its one end, having an end edge and the said three walls cooperating to form at least three sides of a discharge opening spaced along the central axis from said other end of the bottom wall, and means rendering the bottom wall end edge selectively positionable in contiguity with the generally flat surface, the combination with said receiving means of means for promoting discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means in a direction leading away from the bottom wall other end, toward the bottom wall end edge and through the discharge opening, the discharge-promoting means comprising: a substantially rigid structure having a face with a shape and area approximating the shape and area of a lateral cross section of the feedstuff mass and disposable on the bottom wall and between the sidewalls in a given position wherein it is located in the vicinity of the bottom wall other end and with the substantially rigid structure face confronting the discharge opening and any said feedstuff mass within the receiving means; and means for imposing on the substantially rigid structure a force urging it, against resistance provided by the feedstuff mass, toward the discharge opening and for moving at least most of the mass along the central axis, through the discharge opening, and to the bottom wall end edge when said edge is positioned in contiguity with the ground.
 2. The combination of claim 1, said discharge promoting means further comprising means for moving the receiving means relative to said generally flat surface, during at least a portion of the time within which said force is imposed on the substantially rigid structure, in a direction generally opposite to the direction of said force.
 3. The combination of claim 1, said means for imposing said force on the substantially rigid structure comprising: an attenuated member positionable within the receiving means to extend from the position of the substantially rigid structure within the receiving means and through the discharge opening; and means for locking the attenuated member against motion along its length and relative to the substantially rigid structure when the latter is positioned in said position in the receiving means.
 4. The combination of claim 1, the face of the substantially rigid structure, when said structure is disposed within the receiving means at its other end, being at an angle to the bottom wall approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass.
 5. The combination of claim 1, the substantially rigid structure being movable on the bottom wall along the central axis and through the discharge opening.
 6. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass, without excessive disturbance of its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and for forming them into said mass, said means having two ends and comprising a first, bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having a central axis, and second and third, generally planar walls forming receiving means sidewalls each of which is connected to the first wall along and spaced to a respective side of the first wall central axis, the sidewalls each extending upwardly from and inwardly of the first wall at an angle approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass and each of the sidewalls having a respective upper edge, the sidewall upper edges being substantially fixed in location relative to the bottom wall and said upper edges defining therebetween two sides of an opening Extending longitudinally and to each side of the central axis, the bottom wall, at one end of the receiving means, having an end edge and the said three walls cooperating to form, in the vicinity of said one end of the receiving means, at least three sides of a discharge opening for discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means, the apparatus further comprising means for promoting discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means, said discharge promoting means comprising means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; and a substantially rigid structure disposable within the receiving means in the region of the bottom wall other end and having a surface which, when the structure is so disposed within the receiving means, faces the discharge opening and any feedstuff mass within the receiving means and has a shape and area approximating that of a lateral cross section of the feedstuff mass; and means for imposing on the substantially rigid structure a force urging it and the feedstuff mass, against resistance exerted by the feedstuff mass, toward the discharge opening.
 7. In an apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and transferring the mass, without significant disturbance of its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, the apparatus being of the class comprising means for receiving said inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and for forming them into said mass, said means having a first, bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having one end, another end, and a central axis, second and third, generally planar walls forming receiving means sidewalls each of which is connected to the first wall along and spaced to a respective side of the central axis, the sidewalls each extending upwardly from and inwardly of the first wall at an angle approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, the bottom wall, at its said one end, having an end edge and the said three walls cooperating to form at least three sides of a discharge opening spaced along the central axis from said other end of the bottom wall, and means rendering the bottom wall end edge selectively positionable in contiguity with the generally flat surface, the combination with said receiving means of means for promoting discharge of the feedstuff mass from the receiving means, when the bottom wall end edge is positioned in contiguity with the generally flat surface, in a direction leading away from the bottom wall other end, toward the bottom wall end edge, and through the discharge opening and for promoting standing of the mass without significant disruption of its predetermined configuration during said discharge, said discharge and standing promoting means comprising: a first, substantially rigid structure having a face with a shape and area approximating the shape and area of a lateral cross section of the feedstuff mass and disposable on the bottom wall and between the sidewalls in a location in the vicinity of the bottom wall other end and with the first substantially rigid structure face confronting the discharge opening and any said feedstuff mass within the receiving means; a second, substantially rigid structure having a face with a shape and area approximating the shape and area of a lateral cross section of the feedstuff mass and positionable on the bottom wall and between the sidewalls in a location at the discharge opening, the second structure closing off at least a major portion of the discharge opening when so positioned and being outwardly slidable in the receiving means and through the discharge opening; means for locking the second structure in said position in which it closes off at least a major portion of the discharge opeNing, the locking means being selectively releasable for freeing the second structure for movement of the second structure through the discharge opening; an attenuated member disposable in a position in which it extends between the location in which the second structure is positionable and said location in which the first structure is disposable and is spaced from the bottom and side walls; means for connecting the attenuated member between the first and second structures when the first structure is disposed in said location in the vicinity of the bottom wall other end and the second structure is positioned on the bottom wall and between the sidewalls at the discharge opening; and means for expelling the feedstuff mass through the discharge opening when the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the generally flat surface and comprising means for placing on the attenuated member, when the attenuated member is connected between the first and second structures by said means therefor, a pulling force urging first the second structure and next the first structure through the discharge opening.
 8. The combination of claim 7, the apparatus further being of the class in which the bottom wall is provided with an end portion having a proximal edge adjacent the balance of the bottom wall and a distal edge which is said bottom wall end edge and in which the means for rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface comprises means rendering the bottom wall portion pivotable, at its proximal edge and relative to the balance of the bottom wall, between a position in which the end edge is contiguous to the generally flat surface and another, higher position in which the bottom wall portion blocks off the discharge opening, the means for locking the second structure comprising means for holding the bottom wall end portion in its other position and for cooperating with the bottom wall end portion to prevent motion of the second structure through the opening.
 9. The combination of claim 7, said combination further comprising means for holding the attenuated member in spaced relation to the bottom and side walls prior to and during reception of said feedstuff inflow into the receiver, said means having identity distinct from the first structure.
 10. The combination of claim 7, the second structure having an inner face confronting the bottom wall other end and also having an outer face and an opening extending between said inner and outer faces; and the attenuated member having a portion extending through said opening between said second structure outer and inner faces and provided with means for receiving said pulling force.
 11. The combination of claim 7, the second structure being provided with one means for receiving said pulling force and with another means for transmitting the pulling force to the attenuated member, the last-named means comprising a portion of the means for connecting the attenuated member between the first and second structures and both said one and another means constituting portions of said means for placing a pulling force on the attenuated member.
 12. The combination of claim 7, the first structure face and the second structure face, when the first structure is disposed on the bottom wall, between the sidewalls, and in the vicinity of the bottom wall other end and the second structure is positioned on the bottom wall, between the sidewalls, and at the discharge opening, each lying at an angle to the bottom wall approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass.
 13. The combination of claim 7, the first structure face and the second structure face, when the first structure is disposed on the bottom wall, between the sidewalls, and in the vicinity of the bottom wall other end and the second structure is positioned on the bottom wall, between the sidewalls, and at the discharge opening, each lying at an angle to the bottom wall exceeding the angle of rEpose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass.
 14. The combination of claim 7, the means for connecting the attenuated member between the first and second structures being operative for disconnecting the attenuated member from between said structures when the feedstuff mass has come to rest on the generally flat surface, whereby the first and second structures are removable from contact with the feedstuff mass and the attenuated member is withdrawable from the mass.
 15. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass, while holding the mass in substantially its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface to which a given structure is fixedly related, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a pair of sidewalls positionable on the bottom wall in respective positions in which they extend along and are spaced to each side of the central axis and lie at respective angles to the bottom wall approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, each of the sidewalls having opposite, first and second end portions, inner and outer faces, and top and bottom edges connecting the first and second end portions, the sidewall bottom edges being mutually spaced by a given distance and slidably supported by the bottom wall when the sidewalls are positioned on the bottom wall; first and second endwalls positionable on the bottom wall in respective positions in which each of them extends athwart the central axis, each of the endwalls having top and bottom edges and inner and outer faces, the first endwall connecting the sidewalls in the region of their first end portions, the second endwall connecting the sidewalls in the region of their second end portions, and the endwall bottom edges being slidably supported by the bottom wall when the endwalls are positioned in said respective positions thereof on the bottom wall, the side and end walls cooperating to form four sides of an enclosure for which a bottom is provided by the bottom wall while the side and end walls are positioned as aforesaid on the bottom wall and the sidewall upper edges defining two sides of an opening through which the inflow of feedstuff pieces is receivable into the enclosure; means restricting sliding of the side and end walls on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means for preventing mutual spreading of the sidewalls when the side and end walls are slid off the bottom wall onto the generally flat surface and for preventing relative motion, laterally of the central axis, between the endwalls and sidewalls; means for restricting relative motion, longitudinally of the central axis, between the sidewalls and endwalls; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the generally flat surface; holding means for holding the enclosure against horizontal motion relative to the generally flat surface, said holding means comprising a member provided with means adapting it for attachment to the enclosure formed by the side and end walls and with means for connection, at a selected time, of the holding means to said structure to which the generally flat surface is fixedly related; and means for horizontally moving the bottom wall, relative to the generally flat surface and in a direction leading away from the sidewall second end portions, while the holding means is connected to said structure to which the generally flat surface is fixedly related and holds the enclosure against horizontal motion relative to said generally flat surface.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, the bottom wall being provided with an end portion having a proximal edge adjacent the balance of the bottom wall and a distal edge which is said bottom wall end edge; and the means for rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface comprising means rendering the bottom wall end portion pivotable, at its proximal edge and relative to the balance of the bottom wall, between one position in which the end edge is contiguous to the substantially flat surface and another position in which the end edge is raised relative to its location when in said one position, the sidewalls and endwalls being supported by said balance of the bottom wall and said end portion of the bottom wall bearing against the exterior face of the second endwall when the bottom wall end portion is in its said other position, the bottom wall end portion, when in its said one position, forming a ramp substantially smoothly continuous with the balance of the bottom wall and extending therefrom to the substantially flat surface.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, the means restricting sliding of the side and end walls on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis comprising a pair of elongated structures mounted on the bottom wall end portion and extending upwardly therefrom, each member of the pair of elongated structures lying on a respective side of and extending along the central axis and the members of the pair being mutually spaced by approximately the distance separating the sidewall outer faces at the sidewall bottom edges when the sidewalls are positioned on the bottom wall with their bottom edges mutually spaced by said given distance, whereby each member of said pair acts as a guide preventing laterally outward motion of the bottom edge of a respective sidewall relative to the central axis when the sidewalls are on the bottom wall end portion.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, the sidewalls each having opposite end edges and at least one of the endwalls extending laterally to the vicinity of the outer faces of the two sidewalls and bearing against an end edge of each of the sidewalls, the means for preventing relative motion, laterally of the central axis, between the endwalls and sidewalls comprising at least one rigid member connected to each lateral side of said at least one of the endwalls and interfering with the sidewalls when they tend to move relative to said at least one of the endwalls and laterally of the central axis.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, at least one of the endwalls having opposite lateral edges extending at respective, inwardly sloping angles to the bottom wall approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass and each of which lateral edges bears against the inner face of a respective sidewall, whereby relative lateral motion of said at least one of the endwalls relative to the sidewalls is prevented.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15, the means restricting sliding of the side and end walls on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis comprising structure adjacent and in sliding contact with the outer face of each of the sidewalls and fixedly located relative to the bottom wall.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, said structure adjacent the outer face of each of the sidewalls comprising, in association with each of said sidewalls, a wall extending upwardly from and longitudinally along the bottom edge of and bearing against the outer face of the sidewall.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, said structure adjacent the outer face of each of the sidewalls comprising at least one elongated member having a surface bearing against the respective sidewall in the region of and along its bottom edge.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20, said structure adjacent the outer face of each of the sidewalls comprising, in association with each of the sidewalls, a plurality of members fixedly related to the bottom wall and contacting the outer face of the sidewall at a plurality of regions spaced both along the length and across the height of the sidewall.
 24. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for restricting relative longitudinal motion between the sIdewalls and endwalls comprising flanges carried by the sidewall inner face and engaging at least the inner faces of the endwalls.
 25. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for preventing mutual spreading of the sidewalls comprising means for interconnecting the sidewalls intermediate the first and second end portions of the sidewalls and in the region of their top edges.
 26. The apparatus of claim 15, said apparatus further comprising means for connecting the two endwalls at least prior to and during operation of the holding means, said means connecting the two endwalls being separate from the holding means and including an attenuated member extending between said endwalls, along the central axis, and in spaced relation to the sidewalls and bottom wall.
 27. The apparatus of claim 15, the holding means comprising an attenuated member attached to the first endwall, extending in spaced and generally parallel relation to the bottom wall and sidewalls and through the second endwall and having, exteriorly of the enclosure formed by the side and end walls, means for connection of the attenuated member to said structure to which the substantially flat structure is fixedly related.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the attenuated member passes through both the endwalls and the apparatus further comprises: means for locking the attenuated member relative to the first endwall prior to and during joint operation of the holding means and means for horizontally moving the bottom wall and for thereafter freeing the attenuated member for withdrawal of the same from the enclosure through the endwalls, the attenuated member having, in the region of the one of its ends thus drawn through the enclosure, means for attachment of a wire which is drawn through both endwalls by the attenuated member as the latter is withdrawn from the endwalls, means being provided for connecting the wire in taut condition between the endwalls.
 29. The apparatus of claim 15, the means for preventing mutual spreading of the sidewalls comprising members connectible between the sidewalls and disconnectible for permitting removal of the sidewalls from the sides of the feedstuff mass when the enclosure rests on the substantially flat surface.
 30. The apparatus of claim 15, the endwalls lying at an angle to the bottom wall approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass.
 31. The apparatus of claim 15, the endwalls lying at an angle to the bottom wall that is greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass.
 32. The apparatus of claim 15, the endwalls lying at an angle to the bottom wall which is approximately 90*.
 33. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass, while holding the mass in substantially its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, each of said end and side walls having respective top and bottom edges and inner and outer faces; means for connecting the sidewalls and endwalls against motion relative to each other and to form a four-sided enclosure in which each of the sidewalls lies at a respective angle to the endwall bottom edges that approximates the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, the enclosure being slidably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and are located on respective, opposite sides of the central axis, the sidewall upper edges, when the sidewalls and endwalls are connected to form said enclosure, defining two sides of an opening for the reception of said inflow into the enclosure; means restricting slIding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal movement relative to the generally flat surface; and means for horizontally moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal movement relative to the relatively flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the generally flat surface.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33, the holding means comprising an attenuated member extending through the endwalls and having one end adapted for receiving said holding force and another end provided with means for transmitting said holding force to the enclosure.
 35. The apparatus of claim 33, the apparatus further comprising a pulling plate of greater strength and rigidity than the endwalls, the pulling plate being positionable outside the enclosure and in facing relation with one of the endwalls; the holding means comprising an attenuated member passing through both of the endwalls and having an end provided with means adapting the attenuated member for receiving said holding force, the holding means further comprising means for transmitting said holding force from the attenuated member to the pulling plate.
 36. The apparatus of claim 33, said apparatus further comprising a pair of auxiliary endwalls, said means for connecting the sidewalls and endwalls being operative for holding each of the auxiliary endwalls in a position in which it is in a face-to-face relation with a respective one of the endwalls and is located exteriorly of the enclosure.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36, the holding means comprising an attenuated member passing through the endwalls and auxiliary endwalls and having an end adapted for receiving said holding force and another end provided with means for transmitting said holding force to the enclosure.
 38. The apparatus of claim 36, said apparatus further comprising a pulling plate of greater strength and rigidity than the endwalls, the pulling plate being positionable outside the enclosure and in facing relation with one of the auxiliary endwalls; and the holding means comprising an attenuated member passing through all of the endwalls and auxiliary endwalls and having one end provided with means adapting the attenuated member for receiving said holding force, the holding means further comprising means for transmitting said holding force from the elongated member to the pulling plate.
 39. The apparatus of claim 33, the means connecting the sidewalls and endwalls being operative for disconnecting the sidewalls from the endwalls for removal of the sidewalls from the vicinity of the endwalls when the enclosure rests on the substantially flat surface.
 40. The apparatus of claim 33, said apparatus further comprising a pair of auxiliary endwalls, said means for connecting the sidewalls and endwalls being operative for holding each of the auxiliary endwalls in a position in which it is in a facing relation with a respective one of the endwalls and is located exteriorly of the enclosure, and the apparatus still further comprising means for reinforcing the endwalls and provided at the endwall outer faces, the auxiliary endwalls being provided with cutouts shaped for receiving the reinforcing means at a time when the auxiliary endwalls are in facing relation with the endwalls.
 41. The apparatus of claim 33, said apparatus further comprising means for leveling off the top surface of a mass of feedstuff material in the enclosure as the bottom wall is moved from under the enclosure, said leveling means comprising a surface fixedly related to the bottom wall and extending transversely of the enclosure.
 42. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuFf pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass onto a generally flat surface while holding the mass in said predetermined configuration, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a pair of sidewalls and a pair of endwalls, each of said side and end walls having top and bottom edges and opposite end edges, an inner face, and an outer face; means for releaseably connecting the sidewalls and endwalls against motion relative to each other and to form a four-sided enclosure in which each sidewall lies at a respective angle to the endwall bottom edges approximating the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass, the enclosure being slidably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and are located on opposite sides of the central axis, the sidewall and endwall upper edges cooperating to define four sides of a top opening for receiving said inflow into the enclosure; a spaced pair of walls fixedly located with respect to the bottom wall and each extending adjacent, upwardly from, and along a respective sidewall upper edge when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall, the spaced pair of walls having forward and rear ends; a rear wall having a bottom edge connecting the spaced pair of walls at a level and in a location approximating that of the top edge of the endwall nearer the bottom wall end edge when the enclosure is in said given position, the rear wall further having an upper portion connecting the spaced pair of walls and spaced farther from the bottom wall than is the rear wall bottom edge; means restricting sliding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface; and means for moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the substantially flat surface.
 43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the rear wall extends approximately perpendicularly upward relative to the bottom wall.
 44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the rear wall extends upwardly, relative to the bottom wall, at an angle of less than 90*.
 45. The apparatus of claim 42, each member of the spaced pair of walls having an inner face which is adjacent the outer face of a respective one of the sidewalls when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall.
 46. The apparatus of claim 42, each member of the spaced pair of walls having a bottom edge adjacent the top edge of a respective one of the sidewalls when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall.
 47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein each of the spaced pair of walls extends from the rear wall to the one of the endwalls most remote from the rear wall when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall.
 48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the rear wall slopes upwardly away from its bottom edge and the bottom wall, the apparatus further comprising a cross-wall lying at a more steep angle to the bottom wall than does the rear wall, the cross-wall connecting the spaced pair of walls at and upwardly from the rear wall top portion.
 49. The apparatus of claim 42, the means restricting sliding of the enclosure comprising, at each sidewall and when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall, material extending substantially the length of and bearing againSt the respective sidewall in the region of its upper edge and fixedly located relative to the bottom wall, each of the spaced pair of walls being located in fixed relation to and extending upwardly from said material and cooperating therewith to form a substantially continuous surface.
 50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the rear wall slopes upwardly and away from its bottom edge and the bottom wall and said material extending substantially the length of and bearing against the respective sidewall extends for the width of the respective sidewall at least in a region extending from the enclosure endwall located the nearer to the bottom wall end edge to a location in longitudinal register, relative to the bottom wall, with the rear wall upper portion.
 51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the rear wall slopes upwardly and away from its bottom edge and the bottom wall and said material extending substantially the length of and bearing against the respective sidewall extends for the width of the respective sidewall throughout substantially the length of the sidewall.
 52. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the apparatus comprises an upper wall spaced above the sidewall upper edges when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall and connecting the spaced pair of walls from the rear wall to a location in the region of the forward ends of the spaced pair of walls.
 53. The apparatus of claim 52, the upper wall having a forward edge cooperating with the forward edges of the spaced pair of walls to form three sides of an opening, said apparatus further comprising means for affixing the open end portion of a conduit through which is deliverable an inflow of feedstuff pieces within said opening defined by the forward edges of the spaced pair of walls and upper wall and with the conduit open end generally confronting the end of the enclosure nearer the rear wall.
 54. The apparatus of claim 53, said apparatus further comprising a deflecting member mounted for pivoting relative to the upper wall and on a pivot axis extending across the central axis, the deflecting member having a surface and being pivotable to a first position in which its surface is substantially out of the path of at least most of said inflow of feedstuff particles and a second position in which it intercepts most of the inflow and extends downwardly relative to its pivot axis.
 55. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and operative for forming said pieces into a mass of a predetermined configuration in which the mass has a generally flat bottom face and at least a pair of sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass; and means for discharging the formed mass onto a generally flat surface, the first means having the additional functions of directly holding at least portions of the formed mass substantially in said predetermined configuration at least until after said discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface has been completed and of leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass, the first means comprising a plurality of walls and holding means for holding each member of at least a pair of said walls, during discharge of the mass, in facing contact with a corresponding one of said faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than said angle of repose and for releasing said walls so held in contact with said faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than said angle of repose, after discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface, for rendering the released walls removable from contact with the feedstuff mass.
 56. The apparatus of claim 55, the first means being operative for forMing the pieces into a mass having at least two opposite faces each extending at an angle to the mass bottom face which is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces forming the mass and further having at least two other faces which extend at an angle to the bottom face that is greater than said angle of repose, the first means further comprising at least a pair of walls each of which substantially covers the surface of a respective one of said other faces and further comprising means for interconnecting said walls for preventing spreading motion between them produced by forces imposed on the walls by the feedstuff mass after discharge thereof.
 57. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and operative for forming said pieces into a mass of a predetermined configuration in which the mass has a generally flat bottom face and at least four sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass; and means for discharging the formed mass onto a generally flat surface, the first means having the additional functions of directly holding at least portions of the formed mass substantially in said predetermined configuration at least until after said discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface has been completed and of thereafter leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said at least four sloping faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass.
 58. The apparatus of claim 56, the first mean comprising at least four walls and means for holding each one of said at least four walls, during discharge of the mass, in facing contact with a corresponding one of said faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than said angle of repose and for releasing said walls so held in contact with said faces, after discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface, for rendering the released walls removable from contact with the feedstuff mass.
 59. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means operative for receiving vegetable feedstuff pieces and partially shaping them, during such reception, into a mass of a given configuration in which the mass has a top face and a generally flat bottom face and at least a pair of sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass; and second means for discharging the feedstuff pieces onto a generally flat surface, the first means being further operative for completing the shaping of the feedstuff pieces into a mass of said given configuration while the second means is discharging the feedstuff pieces, for holding the finally shaped portions of the mass substantially in said given configuration at least until all the mass has been completely discharged onto the generally flat surface, and for thereafter leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass.
 60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the first means is operative for shaping the feedstuff particles, during their said reception and discharge, into a mass of said given configuration and characterized by having at least four faces each sloping at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the first means is operative for shaping the feedstuff particles, during their said reception and discharge, into a mass of said given configuration and characterized by having at least two faces each sloping at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the Mass and at least two, steeper faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face of the mass that is greater than said angle of repose, said apparatus further comprising at least two walls and means for holding said at least two walls in substantially fixed relation to each other after discharge of the feedstuff and in respective positions in which each of said walls is in supporting relation to a respective one of the at least two, steeper faces.
 62. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass, while holding the mass in substantially its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a first piece comprising a first sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the first sidewall and having a distal edge, the distal edges of the two endwall portions being on the same side of the first sidewall; a second piece comprising a second sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the second sidewall and having a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall endwall portions; means for releaseably locking the distal edges of the endwall portions of one of the sidewalls in mating relation with the corresponding distal edges of the endwall portions of the other sidewall to form a four-sided enclosure in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for the reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other and the two enclosure endwalls formed by the respective endwall portions sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces, the enclosure being slideably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and on respective, opposite sides of the central axis; means restricting sliding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal movement relative to the generally flat surface; and means for horizontally moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal movement relative to the relatively flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the generally flat surface.
 63. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass onto a generally flat surface while holding the mass in said predetermined configuration, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a first piece comprising a first sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the first sidewall and having a distal edge, the distal edges of the two endwall portions being on the same side of the first sidewall; a second Piece comprising a second sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the second sidewall and having a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall endwall portions; mean for releaseably locking the distal edges of the endwall portions of one of the sidewalls in mating relation with the corresponding distal edges of the endwall portions of the other sidewall to form a four-sided enclosure in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for the reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other and the two enclosure endwalls formed by the respective endwall portions sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces, the enclosure being slideably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and on respective, opposite sides of the central axis; a spaced pair of walls fixedly located with respect to the bottom wall and each extending adjacent, upwardly from, and along a respective sidewall upper edge when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall, the spaced pair of walls having forward and rear ends; a rear wall having a bottom edge connecting the spaced pair of walls at a level and in a location approximating that of the top edge of the endwall nearer the bottom wall end edge when the enclosure is in said given position, the rear wall further having an upper portion connecting the spaced pair of walls and spaced farther from the bottom wall than is the rear wall bottom edge; means restricting sliding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface; and means for moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the substantially flat surface.
 64. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and operative for forming said pieces into a mass of a predetermined configuration in which the mass has a generally flat bottom face and at least four sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass; and means for discharging the formed mass onto a generally flat surface, the first means having the additional functions of directly holding at least portions of the formed mass substantially in said predetermined configuration at least until after said discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface has been completed and of thereafter leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said at least four sloping faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass, the first means comprising: a first piece comprising a first sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the first sidewall and having a distal edge, the distal edges of the two endwall portions being on the same side of the first sidewall; a second piece comprising a second sidewall with upper And lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the second sidewall and having a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall endwall portions; and means for releaseably locking the distal edges of the endwall portions of one of the sidewalls in mating relation with the corresponding distal edges of the endwall portions of the other sidewall to form a four-sided enclosure in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for the reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other and the two enclosure endwalls formed by the respective endwall portions sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces.
 65. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means operative for receiving vegetable feedstuff pieces and partially shaping them, during such reception, into a mass of a given configuration in which the mass has a top face and a generally flat bottom face and at least a pair of sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass; and second means for discharging the feedstuff pieces onto a generally flat surface, the first means being further operative for completing the shaping of the feedstuff pieces into a mass of said given configuration while the second means is discharging the feedstuff pieces, for holding the finally shaped portions of the mass substantially in said given configuration at least until all the mass has been completely discharged onto the generally flat surface, and for thereafter leaving freestanding substantially undisturbed each of said sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass, the first means comprising: a first piece comprising a first sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the first sidewall and having a distal edge, the distal edges of the two endwall portions being on the same side of the first sidewall; a second piece comprising a second sidewall with upper and lower edges and two ends, each of which ends bears a respective endwall portion extending laterally from the second sidewall and having a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall endwall portions; and means for releaseably locking the distal edges of the endwall portions of one of the sidewalls in mating relation with the corresponding distal edges of the endwall portions of the other sidewall to form a four-sided enclosure in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for the reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other and the two enclosure endwalls formed by the respective endwall portions sloping upwardly and inwardly relative to each other at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces.
 66. The apparatus of claim 65, one of the enclosure endwalls formed by the mated endwall portions of the first and second pieces having a bottom edge which is spaced upwardly from the bottom edges of the sidewall portions of the first and second pieces.
 67. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, conStraining the pieces arriving in the inflow jointly to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass, while holding the mass in substantially its predetermined configuration, onto a generally flat surface, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a first piece comprising a first endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge, the two sidewall portions extending from the same side of the endwall; a second piece comprising a second endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall portions; means for mating engagement of the distal edges of the sidewall portions of one of the pieces with the corresponding distal edges of the sidewall portions of the other of the pieces to form a four-sided enclosure in which the bottom edges of the two sidewalls formed by the mated sidewall portions are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure endwalls and sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly of the enclosure at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces, the enclosure being slideably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and on respective, opposite sides of the central axis; means restricting sliding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal movement relative to the generally flat surface; and means for horizontally moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal movement relative to the relatively flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the generally flat surface.
 68. An apparatus for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces, constraining the pieces arriving in the inflow to assume a predetermined configuration as they accumulate to form a mass, and discharging the mass onto a generally flat surface while holding the mass in said predetermined configuration, said apparatus comprising: a bottom wall substantially free of downwardly extending convexity and having an end edge and a central axis; a first piece comprising a first endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge, the two sidewall portions extending from the same side of the endwall; a second piece comprising a second endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first sidewall portions; means for mating engagement of the distal edges of the sidewall portions of one of the pieces with the corresponding distal edges of the sidewall portions of the other of the pieces to form a four-sided enclosure in which the bottom edges of the two sidewalls formed by the mated sidewall portions are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure endwalls and sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly of the enclosure at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces, the enclosure being slideably positionable on the bottom wall in a given position in which the sidewall bottom edges are approximately parallel to and on respective, opposite sides of the central axis; a spaced pair of walls fixedly located with respect to the bottom wall and each extending adjacent, upwardly from, and along a respective sidewall upper edge when the enclosure is in said given position on the bottom wall, the spaced pair of walls having forward and rear ends; a rear wall having a bottom edge connecting the spaced pair of walls at a level and in a location approximating that of the top edge of the endwall nearer the bottom wall end edge when the enclosure is in said given position, the rear wall further having an upper portion connecting the spaced pair of walls and spaced farther from the bottom wall than is the rear wall bottom edge; means restricting sliding of the enclosure on the bottom wall to motion along the central axis; means rendering the bottom wall end edge positionable in contiguity with the substantially flat surface; holding means for transmitting to the enclosure a holding force for retaining it against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface; and means for moving the bottom wall from under the enclosure while the enclosure slides on the bottom wall and is held against horizontal motion relative to the substantially flat surface by the holding means and the bottom wall end edge is in contiguity with the substantially flat surface.
 69. A feedstuff handling apparatus comprising: first means for receiving an inflow of vegetable feedstuff pieces and operative for forming said pieces into a mass of a predetermined configuration in which the mass has a generally flat bottom face and at least four sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass; and means for discharging the formed mass onto a generally flat surface, the first means having the additional functions of directly holding at least portions of the formed mass substantially in said predetermined configuration at least until after said discharge of the mass onto the generally flat surface has been completed and of thereafter leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said at least four sloping faces extending at an angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the formed mass, the first means comprising: a first piece comprising a first endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge, the two sidewall portions extending from the same side of the endwall; a second piece comprising a second endwall with two lateral ends, each of which second piece ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first piece sidewall portions; and means for mating engagement of the distal edges of the sidewall portions of one of the pieces with the corresponding distal edges of the sidewall portions of the other of the pieces to form a four-sided enclosure in which the bottom edges of the two sidewalls formed by the mated sidewall portions are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure endwalls and sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly of the enclosure at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces.
 70. A feedstuff hAndling apparatus comprising: first means operative for receiving vegetable feedstuff pieces and partially shaping them, during such reception, into a mass of a given configuration in which the mass has a top face and a generally flat bottom face and at least a pair of sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass; and second means for discharging the feedstuff pieces onto a generally flat surface, the first means being further operative for completing the shaping of the feedstuff pieces into a mass of said given configuration while the second means is discharging the feedstuff pieces, for holding the finally shaped portions of the mass substantially in said given configuration at least until all the mass has been completely discharged onto the generally flat surface, and for thereafter leaving freestanding and substantially undisturbed each of said sloping faces each extending at a respective angle to the bottom face no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces of the mass, the first means comprising: a first piece comprising a first endwall with two lateral ends, each of which ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge, the two sidewall portions extending from the same side of the endwall; a second piece comprising a second endwall with two lateral ends, each of which second piece ends bears a respective sidewall portion having a top and bottom edge and a distal edge fashioned to mate with the distal edge of a respective one of the first piece sidewall portions; and means for mating engagement of the distal edges of the sidewall portions of one of the pieces with the corresponding distal edges of the sidewall portions of the other of the pieces to form a four-sided enclosure in which the bottom edges of the two sidewalls formed by the mated sidewall portions are approximately parallel and in which the sidewall upper edges define two sides of an opening for reception of said inflow into the enclosure, the enclosure endwalls and sidewalls sloping upwardly and inwardly of the enclosure at respective angles such that, when the enclosure rests on a level surface, each of the sidewalls and endwalls extends at an angle to the horizontal that is no greater than the angle of repose of the feedstuff pieces. 